Tom Selleck is Not Ready to Give Up on ‘Blue Bloods’ Yet

Season 14 of Blue Bloods will be its final season. The first half of the last season premieres in February, with Part Two arriving later this year.

Although the ending has not yet been written, the series promises to “go out with a bang.” When the series’ finale was announced, star Tom Selleck sent a heartfelt message to fans.

For the past 13 years, he has considered it an honor and privilege to work on a show that not only honors the men and women who guard and serve in New York City, but also emphasizes the value of family.

Working with these wonderful performers, writers, producers, directors, and crew has been a dream come true, and I’m honored to have been a part of this extraordinary group for more than 275 episodes.

Thank you to CBS Studios and CBS Network for their unwavering support, and we extend heartfelt gratitude to the fans who joined us for supper every Friday night.

Now, the actress is preparing to wrap up this long-running CBS program. We asked big-picture questions, and Selleck responded.

How do you feel about Blue Bloods’ ending?

Tom Selleck: CBS will discover that a large number of people are unwilling to let it go. The show is more popular than ever, and I believe [numbers] will rise with the interest this year. We are certainly not out of ideas.

So you aren’t ready to retire to your Ventura, California ranch just yet?

I am not counting down the days till I can do anything else. I enjoy the work. Because I’m older, my hours can be a little longer at times, but so what? I want to work for as long as they will have me.

Is Frank preparing to retire?

He picks fights because he wants someone to take the weight of this obligation off his shoulders and terminate him. But he has a hyperactive sense of responsibility, which he is trapped with.

What part of Blue Bloods makes you the most proud?

Playing an imperfect but capable father. Dad is frequently the moron in television shows and advertising. It is not my goal for the program, but the end result is an example of a vital patriarch in the family. That’s becoming increasingly rare in our culture.

What role does the weekly Reagan family dinner have in the show’s success?

This is the audience’s favorite section. When I saw the eight-page dinner sequence in [executive producer] Leonard Goldberg’s pilot script, I thought, “They’re going to cut that, aren’t they?” He responded, “No, that will be the show’s centerpiece.” He was correct.